|
Lots
of family fun in Maine's Old Orchard Beach
|
Spotlight on Travel - Mike Cohen
|
OLD ORCHARD BEACH - Ever since
I
was a kid friends always told me about their trips to Maine,
particularly Old Orchard Beach (www.OldOrchardBeachMaine.com).
So,
when I began planning our family vacation I tried valiantly to find a
hotel that fit our budget. In Old Orchard, this simply was not
achieveable. Instead, I found wonderful spots to stay in Portland
(the
Embassy Suites) and Kennenbunkport (the Kennenbunkport Inn), both
of
which are not far drives and based myself in those two locations.
Accommodations were top-notch and access to Old Orchard Beach was just
dandy.
It's almost impossible not to have
fun at Old Orchard Beach. The low surf makes this a favorite spot for
swimming, sunbathing, and making new friends. When the kids get hungry
they can explore the boardwalk for pizza, french fries, hot dogs,
cheeseburgers and even poutine, or you can choose from the many family
style restaurants around town. Try your luck on the video games, jump
on a ride, treat yourself to an ice cream or a cold soda. Thrills,
chills and frills-take your pick or do it all.
Catering
to tourists and families is a way of life in Old Orchard Beach.
|
Palace Playland at Old Orchard Beach
|
The beach, the arcades and amusement
rides, nightly entertainment, auto races and harness racing are
favorite activities in the Old Orchard Beach area. Old Orchard's Pier
is the center of the recreational activities. Extending nearly 500 feet
over the Atlantic Ocean, it features shops, fast food, and games of
skill. During the summer many special events are planned to entertain
and mesmerize everyone in the family festivals, fairs, free concerts,
street dances, and fireworks most Thursday nights. Besides the Pier,
the beachfront businesses offer gift and souvenir shops, restaurants,
nightclubs, and arcades.
Old Orchard Beach is easy to reach by the major highways in Maine.
Exits 36 and 42 off the Maine Turnpike (I-95) take you quickly into our
popular seaside resort, as does the access from U.S.. Route 1.
While Old Orchard's seven-mile long stretch of wide sandy beach
is understandably the major attraction, there is a full range of other
things available to see and do in and around the area.
Palace Playland (www.PalacePlayland.com) is New England's
only beachfront amusement park.
It features a giant arcade, beautiful
carousel, a kiddieland, a gondola ferris wheel and the galaxi
coaster. It is open Memorial Day to Labor Day and features
fireworks
every Thursday night by the Pier.
|
Rides for all ages, including children at Kiddieland
|
I
particularly enjoyed the view from the ferris wheel while the bumper
cars were a lot of fun as well. What's great about this place is that
you do not have to pay for admission , just for the rides. This can be
done by buying tickets or a wrist band for unlimited access. There is
no particular entrance or exit, so you can take a break anytime you
want and explore the Old Orchard beach strip of shops and restaurants
or take a walk on the Pier.
There were Montrealers everywhere I
stepped in Old Orchard Beach. They
are made to feel very at home here, with French messages in tourism
guides and hotel marquees. Why they even serve poutine at most of the
snack bars, not to mention offering vinegar for French Fries, a rarity
in any American state.
|
Try your skills at the Old Orchard Beach Arcade
|
Funtown/Splashtown
U.S.A. (www.FuntownSplashtownUSA.com)
in Saco is
a family amusement and waterpark and home to Excalibur,
Maine's only wooden roller coaster ranked one of the top ten in the
world. The Aquaboggan Waterpark (www.AquabogganWaterpark.com)
is also located in Saco and recently celebrated 30 years as Maine's
largest water park.
Mike
Cohen’s email address is info@mikecohen.ca.
Log on to his travel advice column at www.sandboxworld.com/travel
|
|
|
